They Laughed With Me, Ate With Me, and Claimed to Be My Closest Friends, He Says, But Behind My Back, They Were Plotting to Take Everything I Owned, Destroy My Reputation, and Leave Me Alone to Pick Up the Pieces
My name is Daniel Mwangi, and for many years, I believed friendship was one of life’s greatest protections. I lived in Nakuru, where I ran a successful transport business that had taken me nearly a decade to build. I was not born rich, but through discipline, sacrifice, and long days on dusty roads, I slowly created something meaningful. The people I trusted most were not strangers; they were the same men who sat at my table, shared meals with my family, laughed loudly at my jokes, and called me “brother.” I never imagined that those smiles hid something dark.
These friends knew everything about me. They knew my weaknesses, my financial plans, and even my family struggles. We had met years earlier while hustling together in the matatu business, and as my company grew, I believed we were growing together. I allowed them access to my accounts, involved them in decision-making, and even introduced them to suppliers and clients. To me, loyalty was everything. I believed that success meant lifting those around you. What I did not know was that while I was building, they were studying how to pull me down.
The betrayal began quietly. Clients started avoiding me without explanation. Suppliers delayed deliveries and claimed they had “heard things.” At first, I brushed it off
